Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers odds, picks and predictions

The Kansas City Royals (3-7) open a 3-game road series against the Texas Rangers (5-4) Monday. First pitch at Globe Life Field is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Royals vs. Rangers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting of 2023. The Rangers won the season series 4-2 in 2022.

The Royals won their first series of the season, posting 2 wins in 3 outings against the San Francisco Giants over the weekend. The Under cashed in 2 of the 3 contests.

The Rangers lost their 2nd consecutive series over the weekend, losing 2 of 3 games to the Chicago Cubs in their first road trip of the year. The Over cashed in the final 2 games of the series with the Cubs.

Royals at Rangers projected starters

RHP Zack Greinke vs. LHP Andrew Heaney

Greinke (0-2, 2.38 ERA) makes his 3rd start. He has a 1.41 WHIP, 1.6 BB/9 and 6.4 K/9 through 11 1/3 IP.

• Has received 0 runs of offensive support through his first 2 starts
• Allowed 1 ER on 4 H and 1 BB with 3 K across 6 IP in a win against the Rangers in his only start against them in 2022

Heaney (0-1, 23.63 ERA) makes his 2nd start. He allowed 7 ER on 7 H and 2 BB with 2 K across 2 2/3 IP in a 7-2 loss at home against the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday.

• Last season at home: 2-3, 3.72 ERA (38 2/3 IP, 16 ER), 1.09 WHIP, 55 K, .204 opponent batting average (OBA) in 7 starts and 1 relief appearance with the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Last season in night games: 2-3, 4.09 ERA (44 IP, 20 ER), 1.16 WHIP, 64 K, .243 OBA in 8 starts and 2 relief appearances

Royals at Rangers odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:06 a.m. ET.

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Royals at Rangers picks and predictions

Prediction

Rangers 5, Royals 2

The RANGERS (-165) are a solid play as a moderate favorite in the series opener.

Texas has won 6 of the past 8 games at home dating back to last season and is 5-2 in the past 7 at home against right-handed starting pitchers.

The Royals have won just 6 of the past 19 series openers dating back to last year while going 16-35 on the road (.314 winning percentage).

RANGERS -1.5 (+115) are worth a roll of the dice on the run line, as Texas has won by 3 or more runs in 4 of its 5 victories this season. So if you like the Rangers, you should like them on the run line.

The Royals have lost by 2 or more runs in each of their 7 losses.

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UNDER 9 (-120) is 5-2-1 in the past 8 series openers for the Royals and is 5-2 in the previous 7 outings against AL West foes. Kansas City has not given Grienke a single run of offensive support this season.

The Under is 5-1 in the past 6 series openers for the Rangers too, while going 39-14-7 in their past 60 meetings with the Royals and 20-7-5 in the past 32 meetings in Arlington.

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